Novartis Issues Recall On Excedrin, Bufferin

WASHINGTON (CBSMiami/AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning patients about a potential mix-up between powerful prescription pain drugs and common over-the-counter medications like Excedrin and Gas-X that were made at a Novartis manufacturing plant.

The FDA said some of the over-the-counter pills may have accidentally been packaged with the powerful painkillers that were made at the same facility.

The agency is not ordering a recall, but the drug maker has issued a voluntary recall that includes Bufferin, Gas-X and the caffeine caplets "No-Doz."

The recall is a result of major manufacturing issues at a Novartis facility in Nebraska, which was shutdown last month after FDA inspectors found problems .

The Swiss drug maker decided to pull the products after receiving complaints of mislabeled bottles and broken and chipped pills.

The bottles in question are Excedrin and No-Doz with expiration dates of December 20th 2014 or earlier and Bufferin and Gas-Ex with expiration dates of December 20th 2013 or earlier.

The FDA said some of the Novartis over the counter pills may also have been packaged with powerful prescription painkillers. Endo Pharmaceuticals sells the drugs as Percocet, Endocet Opana and Zydone but the FDA isn't recalling those painkillers because the risk of stray pills is low and so many patients rely on those medications .

Experts say look at your medications closely and if you have any questions, contact your pharmacist. If you have a recalled product, don't use it and contact the company for a refund.

Novartis said there have been no adverse health events related to the problem and that it's working on upgrades at its Nebraska plant.

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